Mobile Practice Dummy

• US 20130053189A1
• Filed: 08/22/2011
• Published: 02/28/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/22/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Allied Power Products, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Allied Power Products, Inc.
• Inventors: Peterson, Robert L., Undrill, Robert James
• Granted Patent: US 9,649,531 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 473/445
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/025 on rollers or wheels
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/10 with adhesive type surfaces, i.e. hook and loop-type fastener
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/54 Transponders, e.g. RFID
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2243/007 American football
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/00 Electric or electronic controls for exercising apparatus of preceding groups; Controlling or monitoring of exercises, sportive games, training or athletic performances
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/34 Tackling, blocking or grappling dummies, e.g. boxing or wrestling or American- football dummies

Abstract

A practice dummy comprising a remotely controlled, self-propelled base unit supporting a detachable upper body enables athletes to practice football skills against a dummy that can simulate the speed and mobility of a human player.

Claims

1. A mobile practice dummy comprising:

(a) a self-propelled base; and

(b) an upper body simulating a portion of a human body and adapted to be supported and movable by the base, the upper body securable to the base to avoid detachment when at least one of a speed and a direction of the base changes but detachable from the base when contacted by another object.

2. The mobile practice dummy of claim 1 wherein the self-propelled base comprises:

(a) a propulsion unit; and

(b) a cover supportable by and releasably securable to the propulsion unit and including an interface surface arranged to engage a supporting surface of the upper body.

3. The mobile practice dummy of claim 2 wherein the supporting surface of the upper body is releasably securable to the interface surface.

4. The mobile practice dummy of claim 2 further comprising:

(a) a first element of a hook and loop fastener affixed to the interface surface; and

(b) a second complementary element of a hook and loop fastener affixed to the supporting surface of the upper body such that the second complementary element of the hook and loop fastener will engage the first element when the upper body is supported by the base.

5. The mobile practice dummy of claim 2 further comprising:

(a) a bumper supported by the propulsion unit;

(b) a first element of a hook and loop fastener affixed to the bumper; and

(c) a second complementary element of the hook and loop fastener affixed to a surface of the cover and arranged to engage the first element when the cover is installed on the propulsion unit.

6. The mobile practice dummy of claim 1 wherein the propulsion unit further comprises:

(a) a first powered ground engaging element;

(b) a second powered ground engaging element; and

(c) a controller arranged to regulate at least one of a speed and direction of the first powered ground engaging element independent of a speed and direction of the second ground engaging element.

7. The mobile practice dummy of claim 6 wherein the base further comprises a receiver to receive electromagnetic signals from a remote transmitter and to signal the controller to change at least one of the speed and direction of at least one powered ground engaging element.

8. A mobile practice dummy comprising:

(a) a propulsion unit arranged for self-propelled movement at a speed and in a direction controllable from a location remote from the propulsion unit;

(b) a cover detachably supported by the propulsion unit;

(c) a pliant upper body simulating a portion of a human body and including a supporting surface;

(d) a first element of a hook and loop fastener affixed to the supporting surface of the upper body; and

(e) a second element of the hook and loop fastener affixed to an interface portion of the cover such that the second element of the hook and loop fastener engages the first element of the hook and loop fastener when the supporting surface of the upper body is supported by the interface portion of the cover, engagement of the first element and the second element restraining separation to enable direction and speed changes of the practice dummy without separating the upper body and the base unit but permitting separation of the upper body from the base unit when the upper body is impacted by another object.

9. The mobile practice dummy of claim 8 further comprising:

(a) a first element of a second hook and loop fastener affixed to the propulsion unit; and

(b) a second complementary element of the second hook and loop fastener affixed to the cover, the first and second elements of the second hook and loop fastener arranged to engage and releasably secure the cover to the propulsion unit when the cover is supported by the propulsion unit.

10. A mobile practice dummy comprising:

(a) a self-propelled base including a substantially planar interface portion; and

(b) a pliant upper body simulating a portion of a human body and including a substantially planar supporting surface securable to the interface portion to avoid detachment of the upper body when at least one of a speed and a direction of the base changes but separable from the interface portion for detachment of the upper body when the upper body is contacted by a user of the practice dummy.

11. The mobile practice dummy of claim 10 further comprising:

(a) a first element of a hook and loop fastener affixed to the supporting surface of the upper body; and

(b) a second element of the hook and loop fastener affixed to the interface portion such that the second element of the hook and loop fastener engages the first element of the hook and loop fastener when the supporting surface of the upper body is supported by the interface portion, engagement of the first element and the second element restraining relative lateral displacement of the supporting surface and the interface portion to maintain union of the upper body and base during direction and speed changes but permitting separation of the upper body from the base unit when the upper body is impacted.

12. The mobile practice dummy of claim 10 wherein the self-propelled base comprises:

(a) a propulsion unit substantially encircled by a resilient bumper; and

(b) a pliant cover supportable by the propulsion unit to substantially enclose an upper portion and a peripheral surface of said resilient bumper, said pliant cover comprising the interface portion.

13. The mobile practice dummy of claim 12 further comprising:

(a) a first element of a hook and loop fastener affixed to the cover; and

(b) a second complementary element of a hook and loop fastener affixed to the propulsion unit such that the second complementary element of the hook and loop fastener will releasably engage the first element when the cover is supported by the propulsion unit.